32 of these non-majority winners were nominated by the dominant party in “safe” seats, meaning they’ve nearly clinched election

October 10, 2022 – A new FairVote report finds that 120 major-party candidates won 2022 congressional and statewide primaries with less than 50% of the vote, including 32 candidates who won with less than one-third of the vote. Under our current voting system, a candidate can win an election with far less than 50% of the vote, meaning a majority of voters voted for someone other than the winner. Ranked choice voting would ensure candidates win with a majority and represent more voters’ choices. 

Key findings include: 

• 32 of these winners are significantly favored to win their general elections after being nominated by the dominant party in “safe,” non-competitive states or districts. They have all but secured office by winning a primary in which the majority of voters voted for someone else. 41 million Americans will be represented by one or more of these non-majority winners. Examples on the Democratic side include congressional nominees Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Jonathan Jackson (IL-1), and Shri Thanedar (MI-13) – all won their primary with less than 30% of the vote. 

• 37 of these winners are advancing to a highly competitive election, meaning that their party may not be unified behind them – and may not be putting their best foot forward – in a winnable race. Examples include Republican U.S. Senate nominees Don Bolduc (NH), Blake Masters (AZ), Mehmet Oz (PA), and J.D. Vance (OH) – all won their primary with 40% of the vote or less. 

“Instead of majority rule, our primaries have become a race to the bottom – who can win with the fewest votes? And with more than 90 percent of congressional districts so partisan that the election is decided in the primary, our elected officials are increasingly chosen by only a fraction of a fraction of the electorate,” said Rob Richie, President and CEO of FairVote, a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections. “Ranked choice voting takes on this problem, by ensuring a candidate wins a majority of votes against their top opponent without a separate runoff. Ranked choice voting dramatically improves voters’ choices, and makes for stronger candidates coming out of primaries. That’s why more cities and states are embracing RCV and making it the fastest-growing nonpartisan voting reform in the country.” 

Ranked choice voting is now used in 56 cities and states with 14 million people and will be on the ballot in a record number of states, cities and counties this November. The report includes a case study on ranked choice voting in Virginia Republican congressional primaries, where it led to higher favorability for the nominee; a more positive primary campaign; and higher favorability for unsuccessful candidates, which fosters a stronger party bench. The list of all 120 candidates who won 2022 primaries with less than 50% of the vote is available online.

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FairVote is a nonpartisan organization seeking better elections for all. We research and advance voting reforms that make democracy more functional and representative for every American.